Fuel tank



Feb. 17, 1953 lcso 2,628,673

FUEL TANK Filed Aug. 23, 1948 FIG.3.

IN V EN TOR.

Patented Feb. 17, 195 3 as, eem it Qarter carburetor' Corporation, St. Louis, Mo a' corporation of Delaware Application August 23, 1948,- Serial No. era- 2 base (01. 158-46) This invention" relates to compartment tanks, and more particularly, to tanks divided into compartments by flexible bulkheads. so as to simultaneously accommo'date'in' variable proportions a plurality of liquids;

It is well known that, under certain conditions, automobiles operate bestwith high-test gasoline, as for example, inascending grades and during acceleration, while at other times, equally satisfactory operation can be achieved using less expensive low-test fuel. Obviously, the ratio between the low-test and. high-test requirements would vary; for example, in amountainous region, high test fuel would be in greater demand than on the prairies,.though"'in both regions there would be conditions under which both types of fuel would be needed. Clearly; in viewof space limitations on automobiles, it is not feasible" to provide two large tanks, nor is it practical to have atank of conventional size divided intofixed compartments, in view of the variable fuelrequirement; Therefore,- it is an object of this invention to provide atwoicoxnpartment tank in which the bulkhead separatingthe compartments is flexible for the purpose'of'valrylng the volume and capacity of the compartments.

Another object of, this'invention is tofiprovide a tank of this type in which 'thexfle'xible bulkhead can be removed and replaced with ease.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following specification when read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is an environmental view of a two-compartment tank in [connection with a two-fuel carburetor on a gasoline engine.

Fig. 2 is a sectional detailed view of the tank showing one form of flexible bulkhead.

Fig. 3 is a sectional detailed view of the tank showing a modified form of flexible bulkhead.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, the numeral ll designates a tank which comprises tubular wall members l2 and 13, end bulkheads l4 and I5, and an intermediate flexible bulkhead It.

At one end of tubular wall members l2 and 13, respectively, are formed outwardly extending annular flanges I1 and I 8 for the p pose of providing means for fastening the two wall members l2 and I3 together.

The cup-shaped, flexible bulkhead I6 is formed of synthetic rubber, or other resilient gasoline resistant material, having formed on its open edge an outwardly extending annular flange I9. In the assembled tank, flange I9 is placed between flanges I1 and i8, and bolts and nuts 20, or other suitable means, are utilizedto clamp the three flanges together. Flan e 19, being, of; resilient material, acts as a gasketbetween the two metal flanges, thereby providing' v a liquid tight seal between the tw compartmentsand between the interior and exterior ofthetank.

E h a s. 4 a d 5,,,ar ea h. o ided with a peripheral, axially extendingflange 2i of the same general contour as the adjacent ends of tubular wall members; and [3,.respectively, the external diameters of the flanges being substan: tially equal to the internal diameter of the wall member. Bulkheads l4 and l5 are fitted in the ends of tubular wall members I2 and 13,,respectively, and flanges 2i are wel-dedto the inner surface of the tubular wall members.

Adjacent the ends of wall members 12 and I3 are downwardly extendingqcylindrical,well members 23 and 24, which; are adapted to Z'Bceiveelectric puel pumps (shown indottedlines on Fig; 1). Diametrically above yvellmembers 23 and- 24, circular openings are made, at 2, and 26 in-tubular wall members 12 and [-3, r-espectiye1y,; to permit access to the fuel pumps. Openings25 and 26- are coverediby circular plates 21' and 28.. V

Referring further to Fig. l,;,a gasoline engine 30 is provided with an intake manifoldjl, and moun ed thereon, two-fuel carburetor 327-. .The low-test compartment of tank ll, enclosed by tubular wall members 12, is connected to carburetor 32 by means of a conduit 34. The hightest compartment, enclosed within tubular wall member I3, is similarly connected to two-fuel carburetor 32 by means of conduit 35. Plates 21 and 28 are formed with suitable openings to permit connections 38 and 39 between the electric fuel pumps and battery 36 or other source of electrical energy and to provide a connection between the electric pumps and the conduits 34 and 35. Means such as double throw switch 31 is provided for selectively energizing the pumps.

The operation of the tank is as follows: The two compartments are filled, respectively, with the desired proportions of low-test and high-test fuels, flexible bulkhead l6 accommodating itself to the relative amounts of fuel put in. If the proportion of high-test fuel is very small, the bulkhead l6 assumes the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 2. If the proportion of high-test fuel is high, flexible bulkhead it will be caused to conform generally to the dotted position Hi. When the proportion of high test fuel to lou test fuel is neither very low, nor very high, the outer, or free portion of flexible bulkhead it will he urged to an approximate intermediate position,

' ratio between the two types of fuel. When either type fuel is required by the carburetor, the proper electric fuel pump forces the proper fuel out of the tank and through conduit 34 or 35, respectively, into the two-fuel carburetor 32.

If it becomes desirable or necessary to replace flexible bulkhead l6, as the result of excessive use or damage, replacement is easily effected by loosening bolts and nuts 20, separating flanges l1, l8, and I9 from each other, and removing the flexible bulkhead from the interior of tubular wall member (3 (or l2). Upon removal of the worn flexible bulkhead, a new one may be inserted, and the flanges l1, l8, and I9 bolted back together to provide a liquid tight seal between the two compartments and the exterior of the tank.

Fig. 3 illustrates a modified form of flexible bulkhead, indicated by the numeral 40. Bulkhead 40 is molded of synthetic rubber or other resilient gasoline resistant material and is formed with a substantially plane center section surrounded by a plurality of annular pleats. On the periphery is flange 42, which is clamped between annular flanges I1 and I8 of the tubular wall members. Bulkhead 40 functions the same in all particulars as bulkhead IS, the operation of which is described above, pleats 4|, however, permitting somewhat greater ease in changing conformation.

It will be understood that the constructional details of the two-fuel carburetor are in a developmental stage at the present time, but for completeness of disclosure, it may be noted that the carburetor 32 may be constructed and arranged according to the disclosure of the application, Serial No. 5,538, filed January 31, 1948, in the name of James T. W. Moseley and owned by the assignee of the present applicant.

This specification illustrates and describes in detail only the preferred embodiments of the invention and it is obvious that such deviations may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as deflned by the appended claims.

I claim;

1. In combination with an internal combus- 4 tion automobile engine having a two-fuel carburetor, a tank having separate compartments for low and high test fuel, said tank including a flexible bulkhead separating the compartments of said tank to permit said tank to accommodate varying proportions of low and high test fuel, conduits connecting each compartment with said two-fuel carburetor, and a fuel pump for each of said conduits.

2. In combination with an internal combustion automobile engine having a two-fuel carburetor, a tank having separate compartments for low and high test fuel, said tank including a flexible bulkhead separating the compartments of said tank to permit said tank to accommodate varying proportions of low and high test fuel, an electric fuel pump mounted in each compartment, means for selectively energizing said electrical fuel pumps, and conduits connecting each electric fuel pump and said two-fuel carburetor.

GEORGE R. ERICSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,311,044 Cavanagh July 22, 1919 1,556,526 Krebs Oct. 6, 1925 1,730,990 Barnhart Oct. 8, 1929 2,092,392 Hewitt Sept. 7, 1937 2,095,752 La Brie Oct. 12, 1937 2,097,985 Maryott Nov. 2, 1937 2,112,568 Hoops Mar. 29, 1938 2,129,930 Hans Sept. 13, 1938 2,132,952 Hewitt Oct. 11, 1938 2,163,241 Huber June 20, 1939 2,293,884 Boyce Aug. 25, 1942 2,371,632 Lippincott Mar. 20, 1945 2,394,431 Curtis Feb. 5, 1946 2,444,665 Oberbeck July 6, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 2,068 Great Britain of 1859 2,096 Great Britain of 1865 

